Bow Down to Sara Porkalob and Dragon Baby

Bow down bitches, because Sara Porkalob has lifted the Seattle theatre scene to new heights. A local, award-winning, solo performer, director ,and activist, Porkolob’s work is intersectional, thought-provoking, and deconstructing of white supremacy.

I was fortunate enough to see Porkalob’s newest creation, Dragon Baby, which is part of a larger saga, Dragon Lady, at 18th & Union. In addition to writing, directing, and starring in her own work, Porkalob has been directing her ass off in Arts West’s Peerless and Washington Ensemble Theatre’s Straight White Men.

Anything Porkalob touches is genius, and Dragon Baby was no less wonderful. From the moment she sets foot on stage, Dragon Baby is a fascinating, moving, and revolutionary experience. I left the theatre thinking “All hail Sara Porkalob” and I know I am not the only one.

Dragon Baby is the second solo performance from Porkalob’s Dragon Lady saga. This episode of the saga focuses on Sara and her relationship with her mother. The hour-long preview depicted various moments in Porkalob’s youth between mother and daughter.

Porkalob is fantastic at weaving a web of stories into a larger narrative. She begins with the big picture, and branches out to other memories that continue to branch and leaf other memories and experiences until, at the moment when it seems we gone so far from what we started from, she suddenly starts to retract those branches and bring us back to the original scene, as if she were tying the story up in a nice tidy bow. In the multiple flashbacks we see a young Sara learning hard lessons in life and being an empathetic human. Oh, and did I mention that Porkalob sings like an angel? Though this performance only included one song however, one can only hope that the finished product will include many more.

The show masterfully addresses issues of systematic oppression in a comedic and critical way. At a young age, Sara was able to identify the dynamics of class and understand it’s effects on her and her mother’s lifestyle. One of the most touching aspects of the musical was the portrayal of her mother’s struggle to balance being a single mother, earner for the household, and falling in love. Maria, Sara’s mother, is a lesbian, and her love story adds rom com elements that make you melt! Maria and Tina’s love story was a highlight of performance. Porkalob describes herself as an artist activist. Her dedication to intersectional feminism and deconstructing white supremacy are coming in hot, hot, hot in this show.

Dragon Baby has all the promise of a new budding romance. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to know where it will take you next, how you will learn more about yourself, and empathize with person’s life story. Porkalob has a talent for telling stories with a pure honesty that can only leave one enchanted. Do yourself a favor and check out her website, follow her on social media, and keep an eye out for the finished product of Dragon Baby and anything else that is on her horizon. Sara Porkalob is a local gem and I cannot wait to see where her journey takes her.

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About The Author

Tacoma Washington native Monisa Brown will take you on a comedic roller coaster with an off-beat, absurdity sure to split your sides with laughter. Monisa has contributed her distinctive stylings in the standup and sketch comedy communities. She is creator and head producer of QTPOC Is Not A Rapper, a Queer Trans and POC focused curated comedy open-mic and showcase, a co-producer of the Comedy Nest, and has appeared in Portland’s Minority Retort, the PNW Black Comedy Festival, and Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival.